Lunch in Austin: Noble Pig Sandwiches

I’ve written before about the goodness that is breakfast at Noble Pig Sandwiches, but I’ve been remiss in sharing just how tasty their lunch is too. While sandwiches are a go-to lunch food for many of us, most are certainly not worth getting all worked up about. Noble Pig will free you from the sandwich doldrums and make you rethink what you believe a sandwich can aspire to be. House-made meats on house-made breads with house-made pickles and crunchy chips take a sandwich to an entirely new level.

Location: Way North Austin on Highway 620, near El Salido Parkway, not too far from 183

Good for: The cure for the common sandwich; seating area is small so big groups might run into issues at the height of the lunch rush; if you really want your co-workers to love you get takeout sandwiches for all

Parking: Usually available although it’s a bit touch-and-go during the busy lunch hour

Special diets: Any sandwich can be made on Udi’s gluten free bread or as a lettuce wrap so bring your gluten free friends along; vegetarians will enjoy the three cheese and cauliflower sandwich but there aren’t many options for vegans

Price: Expect to spend $8 – $10; a 1/2 sandwich with chips is $6 and a great, filling deal

The concept behind Noble Pig is very simple: take quality ingredients, cook them with rich flavors, and turn them into tasty sandwiches. While you can absolutely can (and should) enjoy combinations like smoked duck pastrami on rye and seared beef tongue on fluffy white or wheat, you won’t find cold cuts and sliced cheese on this menu.

Each Noble Pig sandwich starts with familiar flavors and then puts a new twist on them. Take for instance the house specialty, the sandwich after which the restaurant is named (or is the sandwich named after the restaurant): The Noble Pig. This bad boy is nothing short of a pigpalooza, piled high with pulled pork, spicy ham, bacon, and a bit of melted provolone cheese to bring it all together.

And when you’ve eaten your way through all eleven sandwiches on the menu — enjoying catfish, pork belly, roast beef, and even a three cheese and cauliflower blend along the way — you can sample their daily sandwich special which recently featured braised pork and big slices of tomato. They also have daily soup specials like the beef stew that was a perfect companion for the braised pork sandwich.

To be sure you leave completely satisfied, the folks at the pig always have a collection of one-bite tarts on hand, some featuring bacon (in case you didn’t get enough pig at the pig), and others a more fruity flavor profile. Pop one in your mouth as you walk out the door for the perfect ending to your sandwich adventure.

It’s true that Noble Pig is a big of drive for those of us who don’t live or work up north, but I’ll guarantee you it’s worth the drive. I’ve been known to work from home just so I can feed my Noble Pig sandwich cravings. And of course you can always visit them on a weekend. For an extra-special — noble even — experience, visit them around 10:30 for a late breakfast then order a sandwich to go for a late lunch. Just be sure to plan a nap and possibly a round of exercise in between.

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2 Comments

Actually, Noble Pig is a bit gluten-free friendly. Any sandwich can be made on gluten-free bread, which my GF friends tell me is quite yummy. Any sandwich can also be made as a salad, which another GF friend said was an odd, meaty “salad” but tasty.
Vegetarians, well, yeah, they might want to look elsewhere. Or just break their rules cuz Noble Pig is amazing.

Thanks for the heads-up Lynett. I talked with the Noble Pig folks on Sunday and they do indeed have gluten free bread and they can also turn any sandwich into a lettuce wrap or salad for those who want to skip the bread entirely. I’ve updated the post accordingly.